islamic-jihad-legacy-of-forced-conversion-imperialism-slavery

Life of Prophet Muhammad and the Birth of JihadMuhammad had not yet committed enough brutality against the Quraysh. To all Muslims, the evidentlycivilized and tolerant behavior of the Quraysh toward Muhammad was such an unpardonable crime that heshould have slaughtered all of them upon his capture of Mecca.Muhammad’s capture of Mecca, nonetheless, was not bloodless either. Khalid ibn Walid had brutallyslaughtered those who sought to put up a meek resistance. Muhammad had also ordered execution of ten ortwelve Meccan citizens who had earlier abandoned Islam, or had criticized or ridiculed him and his creed.Some of the proscribed persons belonging to influential families, lobbied by their family members, werespared. Eventually, four persons were executed. Amongst them were two singing girls, who had composedsongs ridiculing Muhammad. 65 Given the kind of rather humane treatment Muhammad had received from theMeccans against the sort of torment, insults, troubles, bloodshed and hardships he had caused them, noMeccan citizens deserved capital punishment in any sort of sensible justice—especially when, they hadunconditionally surrendered their homeland to Muhammad’s rule.Further cruelty of barbaric nature was yet to follow upon Muhammad’s conquest of Mecca. Afterdestroying the Ka’ba, Muhammad sent Khalid ibn Walid to bring the neighboring tribes into submission.Khalid reached the Jazima (Jadhima) tribe and ordered them to lay down their arms. Ibn Ishaq records: ‘Assoon as they had laid down their arms, Khalid ordered their hands to be tied behind their backs and put themto the sword, killing a number of them.’ 66 The tribe had already offered submission to Muhammad. On thisground, a few Medina citizens and refugees in Khalid’s party intervened, saving the lives of the rest.Moreover, the Jazima tribesmen had never caused any trouble to Muhammad or his community. This crueltyon them, therefore, was nothing less than barbaric. Upon Muhammad’s conquest of Mecca, the way hemercilessly destroyed the idol-gods of the Quraysh, put his critics to death, Khalid slaughtered those Meccancitizens who had shown a meek resistance and the heartless way Khalid slaughtered the Jazima tribesmen andso on, it represents an occasion of cruel atrocity on his part, not of forgiveness, kindness and generosity of anykind.The Prophet had conquered or brought into submission all other Pagan tribes of Arabia using violentor intimidating tactics, which will not be included in this book to keep the discussion short. However, hisconfrontation with the Quraysh, which was rather sympathetic, gives a prototypic outline of his dealing withthe idolatrous people, which will apply to all idolaters of the world at all time.Jewish influence on Muhammad’s missionMUHAMMAD’S DEALING WITH THE JEWSIt has already been explained that Prophet Muhammad was highly influenced by the monotheistic beliefs ofthe Jews and Christians. This had, likely, inspired him to launch his own prophetic mission for preaching amonotheistic creed amongst the Polytheists of Mecca for proclaiming the oneness of God. Muhammadobtained the first idea of the Jewish people and their creed and customs when he was on a business-trip toSyria with his uncle Abu Talib at the young age of twelve. 67 In Mecca too, he was friendly with one learnedJewish rabbi, named Abdais ben Salom, who is said to have had recited the Jewish scriptures and explainedJewish traditions to Muhammad. Ibn Ishaq’s biography of Muhammad reveals that he used to visit the Bethha-Midrash, a house for the study of biblical commentaries in Mecca. Muslim commentator Al-Baydawirelates that certain Jews used to repeat ancient history, as recounted in the Torah, to Muhammad. Muhammad65. Ibid, p. 410-11; Walker, p. 31966. Ibn Ishaq, p. 56167. Ibn Ishaq, p. 79–81; Muir, p. 2130